Compare towns
Bethany vs Thomaston vs Hamden vs Bolton
Cost, people, housing, commute and schools, side by side, each benchmarked against Connecticut.
What stands out worked out from the figures below
Bethany has the highest household income ($166k).
Thomaston has the most affordable homes ($283k median).
Hamden has the most renters (37.6% rent).
Bolton has the most people working from home (20.7%).
What matters to you?
Pick a few. We’ll pull those rows to the top and mark which town comes out ahead on each. There’s no overall score: what matters is up to you.
| Measure | Bethany | Thomaston | Hamden | Bolton |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Your priorities | ||||
| People | ||||
| Population | 5,288 |
7,492 |
61,045Highest |
4,853Lowest |
| Median age | 42.5±2.9 3% above CT |
41.5±7.7 about the CT average |
38.7±0.9Lowest 6% below CT |
43.7±3.3Highest 6% above CT |
| Bolton and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Kids under 18 | 20.3%±5.9 CT: 20.2% |
20.5%±5.2Highest CT: 20.2% |
17%±1.5Lowest CT: 20.2% |
20%±3.6 CT: 20.2% |
| Thomaston and Bethany are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Age 65+ | 17.2%±4.2Lowest CT: 18.5% |
18.6%±3.6 CT: 18.5% |
18.1%±1.3 CT: 18.5% |
19.7%±3.4Highest CT: 18.5% |
| Bolton and Thomaston are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Bachelor’s degree+adults 25+ | 58%Highest CT: 42.5% |
34%Lowest CT: 42.5% |
47.8% CT: 42.5% |
51.3% CT: 42.5% |
| Enrolled in collegeshare of residents | 6.8%±3.7 CT: 7.1% |
5.5%±2.1Lowest CT: 7.1% |
15%±1.1Highest CT: 7.1% |
7.7%±2.6 CT: 7.1% |
| Cost of living | ||||
| Household incomemedian | $166,236±$20kHighest 74% above CT |
$103,218±$15k 8% above CT |
$98,306±$7kLowest about the CT average |
$126,364±$19k 32% above CT |
| Home valuemedian, owner-occupied | $418,000±$42kHighest 14% above CT |
$282,600±$23kLowest 23% below CT |
$298,200±$9k 19% below CT |
$367,600±$17k about the CT average |
| Bethany and Bolton are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Rentmedian gross, monthly | — | $1,037±$147Lowest 30% below CT |
$1,746±$50Highest 17% above CT |
$1,127±$55 24% below CT |
| Property taxmedian, yearly | $8,313Highest 25% above CT |
$5,915Lowest 11% below CT |
$7,784 17% above CT |
$8,091 22% above CT |
| Renters paying 30%+of income on rent | 0%±100Lowest CT: 52.6% |
57.9%±22Highest CT: 52.6% |
50.9%±5.4 CT: 52.6% |
39.8%±30.8 CT: 52.6% |
| Thomaston and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Below poverty line | 2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
2.3%Lowest CT: 10% |
9.3%Highest CT: 10% |
7.2% CT: 10% |
| Housing | ||||
| Homeownersof occupied homes | 97.2%Highest CT: 66.5% |
77.7% CT: 66.5% |
62.4%Lowest CT: 66.5% |
88% CT: 66.5% |
| Typical home builtmedian year | 1970Highest 3 yrs newer than CT |
1961Lowest 6 yrs older than CT |
1964 3 yrs older than CT |
1969 2 yrs newer than CT |
| Getting to work | ||||
| Average commuteone way | 32 minHighest 21% above CT |
27 min about the CT average |
22 minLowest 18% below CT |
25 min 6% below CT |
| Work from home | 12%±5.2 CT: 16% |
7.6%±3.7Lowest CT: 16% |
16.3%±2.1 CT: 16% |
20.7%±4.6Highest CT: 16% |
| Bolton and Hamden are within the Census margin of error here, so we can’t say which is really higher. | ||||
| Schools | ||||
| Public school scoresrank in state, math + reading | #30 of 149 in CT | #106 of 149 in CT | #122 of 149 in CT | #79 of 149 in CT |
| School district | Bethany School District · Regional School District 05 | Thomaston School District | Connecticut Technical Education and Career System · Area Cooperative Educational Services | Bolton School District |
| High school in town | None in town | Thomaston High School | Hamden High School | Bolton High School |
| Students per teacherat that high school | — | 10.7 |
13.5Highest |
7.4Lowest |
| On TownTapestry | ||||
| Old photos in History | None yet | 6 photos → | None yet | None yet |
CT average · Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates 2020–2024; 2010 & 2020 decennial census; NCES Common Core of Data. “±” is the Census margin of error. Property tax is top-coded by the Census at $10,000+. School rank compares math and reading proficiency against the state average.